School is starting up again across the country, which means streets and crosswalks will be filled with children who may not fully understand the rules of the road. During the school year, drivers should exercise special care to prevent accidents, some of which could cause serious personal injuries with lifelong consequences. The tips below will help protect the lives of pedestrians and prevent costly lawsuits.

4 School Zone Safety Tips

1. Adjust Your Route

The safest approach to school zones is to avoid them entirely. If your commute takes you through school zones, you may want to find a new route that directs you away from schools and protected crossings. With the reduced speed limits in school zones, a new route may actually be faster.

2. Follow the Law

Speed limits in school zones are typically much lower than surrounding areas, and are often filled with school buses. Remember that passing a stopped school bus is against the law, and infractions in a school zone often have much higher penalties.

3. Stay Alert

Small children often dart into the road from directions drivers may not expect. Stay alert for children who may run out of driveways, between parked cars, or other areas where crossing guards may not be present.

4. Leave Early

If there’s no other route, give yourself extra time for the lower speed limits and congestion around school zones. Many auto accidents and resulting personal injury claims can be easily avoided if responsible drivers are not in a hurry.

For more than 40 years, New York accident victims have relied on Stephen B. Kaufman, P.C., a Bronx personal injury attorney with an established track record of success fighting for the rights of those injured through no fault of their own. Visit their website to learn more about their broad scope of legal services, call (718) 822-0500 to discuss your personal injury case today, and follow the law firm on Facebook for more safety tips and advice.